The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-14
THE FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS
The Senate Continues the Interstate De-
bate and Postpones the Vote.
Senator Eyarts Takes the Floor and Delivers
Speech Opposing the Measure-The
House TransactS Routine Business.
THE SENATE.
Mr.. Evarts Opposes the Interstate Bill
Tho Vote Again Postponed.

WASHINGTON, Jan. ID. Among LILO co'hinuo'
cations presented and referred was one from the
Secretary of the Treasury calling attention 10
the importance of correcting the unhealthy con-
dition of the Treasury Building
The Senate took up a resolution offered yes |
terday by Mr. Vest, directing the Secretary OF
the Treasury to furnish e full and complete
statement, by itemized account, OF all moneys
paid out on account Of prosecution OF criminal
cases in Safe courts by federal officiaS OF the
departments, from July l. 1879. to Dec. !, 1886,
with a list of officials agents or employees en-
gaged in such prosecutions, the amount paid
them and for what specific services, etc. MIR.
Vest stated, in reply to M. Edmunds lwho had
moved to refer the resolution to the judiciary
conmittee), that it had been based upon
Washington dispatch to the St. Louis Republic
an. referring to a suit brought by MIR. Bliss, IN
che Court of Claims for fees dsalloweo oy
Comptroller Durham.
Mr. ingalls, stated that a like resolution had
been sent to him with request that he offer IT.
that he had declined to do without explana-
tions. and that he hac received a letter which
convinced him that the underlying motive was
n personal one, to redress personal grievance
The resolution was modified, according to a
suggestion of Mr.. Edmunds. by making 1t apply
also to civil cases. and 1t was then adopted
On motion Of Mr.. Gray, the Senate bill to pay
L, MOrCecal
carrying the mail from Charleston, S. G., to
Havana, Cuba, between October, 1859. and July,
1860, was taken Up and passed.
The Senate then resumed consideration OF the
conference report on the interstate commerce
bill. The report having been read IN full, Mr.
Hnar moved that the Senate disagree to the re-
port insist on its former action, and request
further conference.
Mr. Cullom claimed that his motion to agree
to the report took precedence of a motion to dis
agree.
Mr. Harris, of the conferees. desired every
Senator TO realize the fact that when he voted
on the question Of agreeing or disagreeing to
this report he voting. in effect, on the ques-
ton as to whether there should be any leglsla.
ton the subject during this Congress.
Mr. Hoar characterized Mr. Harriss statement
as extraordinary, and appealed to the Senate not
TO submit to that kind of threat. Here was
bill which embodied four great salutary PROPOSE
tions on which the Senate. the House OF Repre-
sentatives and the American people were sub
stantlally agreed, and the Senate was now told
that none of these things should be accomplished
unless there was engrafteG on the bill what was
q departure from the great doctrine OF reasona-
bleness unless there was engrafted on 1t a prln-
-ciple against which the customers, and not the
railroads. interested in the carrying trade, were
protesting on the ground that the inevitable
effect of it would be to put up freights.
and to make large branches of busness-now
carried successfully and profitably-impossi-
BILE in the future
Mr. George advocated the adoption of the re-
port. He said he had no doubt that the effect OF
the legislation world be to increase freight rates
temporarily, not because that was the legitimate
result of 1t, but because the railroad companies
would make it the occasion OF unnecessarily and
unjustly raising the rates in order to bring
the measure into disrepute. He WAS satisfied
that if the conference report were disagreed to II
meant no legislation on the subject during this
Congress.
Mr. Hoar-Why2
Mr. George-Because after the extreme con
cessons made by the conferees on each side, il
this reasonable repcTt-much fairer 10 the rail
roads than to the people-be rejected, no further
concessions be made
Mr.. Hoar-Does the Senator mean to say tina
II the majority of the Senate is of opinion thai
this long-apd short haul section is absurd, will
raise rates-not only temporarily but perma
nenty-and will defeat the purpose Of the bill
any member of either house will refuse to vot.
for all the other excellent legislation, which h.
also approved, of the bill?
Mr.. Georse-There is feeling sentiment.
suspicion (if may use the term that this bill
and all legislation on this subject is to be de
feated by diatory motions. l do not know hov
far that goes, and do not entertain that suspicion
myself. believe, however, that it will be tn
policy Of the railroad companies, soon tn
bill becomes a law, 10y all sorts of tricks AM
maneuvers. to raise rates unreasonably and I'm
Justly, and to charge that to this bill. Eve ~
effort device, and trick will be resorted to by
the railroad companies for the purpose of bring
ing into disrepute legislation on this subject
Mr.. Frye gave notice that he would move t
rscomnit the report with Instructions ant
claimed that that motion would take precedence
OF the other two motions
Mr.. Evarts then addressed the Senate in OF
position to the report. The bill. ne said ha
been properly designated ian act to regulat
commerce." not ito regulate interstate com
xnerce" He denounced the bill as unconstitu
tional, and as utterly inconsistent with the basi
on which the Constitution lodged in the fedora
government jurisdiction over the subject of com
The w n
more perfect union. to establish justice, an
to insure domestic tranquility but the effect O
this bill would he in its tendencies, to make tn
union less perfect, to disestablish justice and t.
Insure domestic discord Every decision of tn
Supreme Court on this subject had been to re
move impediments to commerce and to insist o.
absolute equality. But the pending msasur
would interfere with the freedom and eeualit
of commerce; and the reasons whic
.deI,ied to the States the power t
do so were also reasons why tn
Same power should be denied to the federal gov
eminent Outside of the fourth and fifth sec
tions, the bill for the regulation of com
merce, and properly belonged to the sphere O
law making; but these sections were departur
from law-making and we're attempt to la
down rules of transportation not recognized b
the laws of commerce. For himself, he had n
personal interest in the matter; he had no bias
he had only conviction of the injury whic
these two sections would produce on commerce
For aught ne knew, they nigh; injure railroads
might cripple them; but, If SO, it would be be
cause they would lnjure and cripple commerce
btrangula.ion of commerce for the purpose O
exercising construction on railroads would b
the sheerest folly in the world. 1t was the in
terest OF the railroads that commerce should b.
developed, not restrained; that its volume
should be increased and it's freedom unhampered
AS the views of the New York Chamber O
Commerce had been printed in the Record. an
lad probably been read by Senators, he woul,
rot now occupy time in reading them; but h
would direct attention to the views submitte
10 tse Senate by other commercial bodies of tn
country. The Peoria Board of Trade ha
adopted resolutions unanimously declaring tina
such radical and experimental legislation wa
rot only uncaed for, but would produce wild
ipread disaster to the most vital interests of th
Western States The Minneapolis Board G
Trade had also unanimously adopted resolution
approving the general principles of the bill, br
Amusing tha fourth and 9Th